Overhead track.



Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNTTED @TATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. FERRIS, 0F HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO I-IUNT, I-IELM, FERRIS & COMPANY, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

OVERHEAD TRACK.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY L. Fninus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvard, in the county of MoHenry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Uverhead Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in an overhead-track, and is fully described and explained in the specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the track showing the same in place; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the junction between the flexible and rigid tracks; Fig. 4 is a section on the line a of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the parts shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section in the line 7 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A is a hollow tubular track supported by brackets a which may be of the form illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2. This track is more especially designed for feed and litter-carriers, and the like, and the rigid or hollow-tubular track will therefore in practice be laid out wholly within the barn, and will extend approximately to the barn door.

B is a flexible track in the form of a round rod or heavy wire which extends from the door-opening to a post adjacent to the dropping point.

Rigid track is much more desirable than flexible track for use inside the barn, and the necessary supports for a rigid track can readily be found within the barn in the floor-joists above the same. Outside the barn flexible track is more desirable, first because it requires no intermediate support and, second, because it can be so arranged that the carrier can be pushed out with a single push given at the barn-door and will proceed to the du1nping-point where it will automatically dump itself, the elasticity of the flexible track thereupon springing the track up to such an extent that the carrier will return automatically to the barn on the slope thus formed. The problem to be met in combining these two kinds of track Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1911.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 613,116.

is to arrange a junction for the two, over which a feed and litter-carrier can readily run from one to the other and so that the end of the flexible track within the barn can be supported with the greatest possible firmness. It will readily be seen that inasmuch as the flexible track may be seventy-five to a hundred feet long and may carry a weight of several hundred pounds, the strain at the end of the flexible track will be very heavy, and it must be given very firm support; and this support must be of such a character as not in any way to interfere with the free passage of the carrier over the junction.

C is a bracket which extends downward from a beam or sill at the door-opening. The bracket C has bolted to its lower end a plate D which extends horizontally from the bracket toward the line of the track, the edge adjacent to the track being grooved along its entire length cl as shown in Fig. 7 The edge of the plate D consists of three portions. One portion D the edge of which lies immediately in contact with the main line of the flexible track and is therefore in line with the main line of the rigid track. A second is the portion D the edge of which is parallel to that of the portion D but which is off-set backward or toward the line of the bracket 0 from the portion D The portions D and D are connected by a diagonally disposed portion D it being understood that the groove (Z runs along all three portions. The flexible track follows the line of this groove, as illustrated, and it is held in that line by means of a U-shaped loop E, the ends of which are threaded and extend through elongated eyes d cast integral with and extending in opposite directions from the portion D of the plate D. The threaded ends of the loop E carry nuts 6 by means of which the flexible track is drawn forcibly into proper position.

Beneath the plate D is secured a coupling member F screwed, bolted or otherwise secured in position. This coupling member has a lip f extending behind the plate D or on that side thereof toward the bracket C, I

and it has as well, on the opposite edge, an upwardly projecting flange f curved outwardly to afford a channel between itself and the groove cl of the plate D, carrying at its upper edge a rib f which serves as a The rib.

thereto, the parts being held in engagement;

by ears f bent beneath the flexible track.

Theiri'b or rail f is prolonged in the oppo-- site direction to form a stud f which re ceives and acts as a support for the last section of the rigid or hollow tubular track.

*O'n the raver surface of the couplingm mber F are cli'ps G curved up at their ends, the same serving to depress devices which may be used for holding the carrierwheeis positien upon the track in accordance with what is now common practice, in? order that a carrier-wheel so provided with movable retaining devices may pass the 'c'ons'tr-uctio'ii here illustrated.

Hav ng thus set out the construction, I will now explain the manner in which the parts assembled.

The rigidtradk is laid as desired in the barn excepting the last section or sections and the corresponding brackets a. The flexible track is erected with itsmain portion in line "therewith and the end of the flexibletraek within the barn is fastened in positi'on at a "point some inches out of line with the main track and behind the line of brackets a; The bracket C carrying the plate ID 'i'sthen placed in position with its forwardedge in the line with the main track and the intended line of the flexible track, the flexible track being at that time loose enough to permit the bracket to be placed in position, The coupling-member F 'isthen adjusted to position but the ear G farthest removed from the door is removed. Ihe loop E is then hooked over the flexible track, the nut e placed upon it and, by manipulating the nut, the loop is drawn over "so 'as to bring the flexible track into the curve of the groove d along the entire length thereof. 7 The-ear G is then placed in position, the remaining length or lengths of rigid track are inserted and ears f are bent underneath the flexible track, after which thefflexihle track is tightened up to the proper extent.

It will be seen that by this construction the ends sought are perfectly attained, and thata straight line track is provided upon which the carrier can run from the rigid enter a the fle'xibletrack without passing over any curve. The construction here preferred form embodying my invention, butby, describing the same in detail, I do not intend to limit myself to the specific features shownyrn'y intention being in the claims herein after set forth to claim all the novelty which is inherent in the construction as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

hat .I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination a flexible track and rigid track in line with each other, and a support for that end of the flexible track which is adjacent to the rigid track out of line therewith.

2. In combination a flexible track and a rigid track in line with each other, a support for that end of the flexible track which is adjacent to the rigid track out of line therewith, and means for guiding the flexible track onto the support.

3. In combination a flexible track, a rigid member for putting a lateral bend in the flexible track, a support for the flexible track beyond the bend and a rigid track forming the continuation of the main line of the flexible track.

l. In combination a flexible track of round rod, a bracket having a groove in which the flexible track is held to take a lateral bend, a support for the end of the flexible track beyond the bend thus formed, a round rigid track, means carried by the bracket in line with the main line of the flexible track to receive the round rigid track.

5. In combination a bracket, a plate on the edge of which is a groove having two parallel portions connected by a diagonal portion, a flexible track of round rod following the groove and running to a support out of the plane-of its main line, means for holding the flexible track in the groove, a member overhanging at one end the flexible track to receive therefrom the carrier-wheel and terminating at the opposite end in supporting means for a rigid track, and a rigid track supported thereby.

6. In combination a bracket, a plate in the edge of which is a groove having two parallel portions connected by a diagonal portion, a flexible track of round rod following the groove and running to a support out of the plane of its main line, a threaded loop for holding the flexible track to its seat in the groove, a member overhanging at one end the flexible track to receive therefrom the carrier-wheel and terminating at the opposite end in supporting means for a rigid track, and a rigid track supported thereby.

7. In combination a bracket, a plate in the edge of which is a groove having two parallel portions connected by a diagonal portion, a flexible track of round rod following the groove'and running to a support outof the plane of its main line, means for holding the flexible track to the groove, a

coupling-member underlying the plate and having a flange overhanging the flexible track, one end of which flange terminates set my hand and afiiXed my seal this 3rd in a tapered horn on which a Wheel can run day of March, 1911. from the flexible track and the other end HENRY L. FERRIS. [L.s.]

of Which terminates in a stud to support a In the presence of two subscribing Wit- 4 hollow tubular-rigid track, and a rigid track nesses:

carried by said stud. R. N. JACOBS,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto R. A. HEMENWAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

